KATHMANDU (UCAN) -- Bhutan inaugurated its first national television and Internet service to mark the 25th anniversary of the coronation of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck on June 2.

A professor of political science at Kathmandu's Tribhuwan University, Rabindra Khanal, told UCA News June 6, "The media is very powerful ... it was the media that helped us in Nepal bring about democratic reforms nine years ago ... change in Bhutan will now speed up."

Ratna Subba, general secretary of the Bhutan Liberation Front, one of the refugee groups representing some 100,000 ethnic Nepalese expelled from Bhutan 10 years ago, told UCA News May 31 in Kathmandu, "We have to take this news positively, as this is a leap in communications for Bhutan."

"Himal," a Kathmandu-based monthly magazine, reported in its May issue that the new Internet service will be provided by government-run "Druknet."

Meanwhile in Bhutan, the dual media launching was highlighted by "Kuensel," Bhutan's national weekly newspaper.

As early as March, it carried articles about the event, with its April-May issues devoting front page stories and an editorial to publicize the launching as well as to discuss its repercussions on Bhutanese society.

To mark the event, in which Bhutan Broadcasting Service's initial programming was devoted to the silver jubilee of the king's accession to the throne, the royal government declared June 2-4 as holidays to allow locals to fully participate in the celebrations, "Kuensel" reported.

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